Obama to FOX31: “Two speeches” prepared for Election Night

DENVER — President Barack Obama, whose campaign added a late round of satellite interviews with television stations in swing states Tuesday afternoon in the final hours before polls close, told FOX31 Denver that he has two speeches prepared for Election Night.

“You always have two speeches prepared because you can’t take anything for granted,” Obama told FOX31 Denver political reporter Eli Stokols.

“It is an extraordinary privilege to serve the people, whatever the office. I have served as a state senator, a U.S. senator and now as the president. And each and every time I’ve been reminded that it is the people where power ultimately resides; and I’m their representative, I’m their servant.

“My hope is that after four years of working as hard as I can every single day to help working families all across Denver and all across America, that people will decide that this is someone who works hard for me and cares about me and I want to make sure that he can finish the job.”

On his campaign plane Tuesday, Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney told reporters that he’s only written one speech, a victory address.

Asked if the late satellite interviews just hours before polls closed across the country should be interpreted as a sign that his campaign is uncertain or nervous about how the election is playing out, President Obama said that it’s just an eleventh hour effort to encourage more people to vote.

“This is a usual practice of mine. I just like to talk to folks directly and encourage them to vote before polls close,” the president said.

“I’m a big believer that, whoever you’re voting for, this is one of the most important obligations we have as citizens.”

Polls close at 7 p.m. across Colorado.

With close to 2 million ballots already cast, Republicans have a slight edge over Democrats overall; but unaffiliated voters, who make up nearly a third of the electorate, will determine which candidate wins Colorado and its nine electoral votes.